The document discusses the composition and structure of Earth's atmosphere. It is composed primarily of nitrogen, oxygen, and trace amounts of other gases. The atmosphere is divided into five layers - the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere - based on how properties like temperature and pressure change with altitude. Each layer has distinguishing characteristics, such as weather occurring in the troposphere and protective ozone existing in the stratosphere.

1. Composition andComposition and
Structure of theStructure of the
AtmosphereAtmosphere
Why is it so important to life onWhy is it so important to life on
earth?earth?

2. Composition of theComposition of the
AtmosphereAtmosphere
 The atmosphere is composed of aThe atmosphere is composed of a
mixture of gases, solids and liquids.mixture of gases, solids and liquids.
 Solids? Particles of dust and dirt floatSolids? Particles of dust and dirt float
around in the air. Most of thesearound in the air. Most of these
particulates are invisible to the humanparticulates are invisible to the human
eye.eye.

3. AtmosphericAtmospheric GasesGases
(Mixture of gases, solids, and liquids)(Mixture of gases, solids, and liquids)
 Nitrogen - 78%Nitrogen - 78%
 Oxygen - 21%Oxygen - 21%
 Water Vapor – 0 to 4%Water Vapor – 0 to 4%
 Used for clouds and precipitationUsed for clouds and precipitation
 Carbon Dioxide - .037%Carbon Dioxide - .037%
 Keeps Earth warm and is used byKeeps Earth warm and is used by
plants to make foodplants to make food
 Argon - .93%Argon - .93%
 Traces of neon, helium, methane,Traces of neon, helium, methane,
krypton, xenon, hydrogen, and ozonekrypton, xenon, hydrogen, and ozone

4. Earth’s atmosphere is madeEarth’s atmosphere is made
up of 5 different layers…up of 5 different layers…

5. Did you know that TheDid you know that The
Science Monkeys Took Evan?Science Monkeys Took Evan?
 TThehe
 SSciencecience
 MMonkeysonkeys
 TTookook
 EEvanvan
Say it withSay it with
me…me…

6. I know you are thinking…I know you are thinking…
what is she talking about???what is she talking about???
 TThehe
 SSciencecience
 MMonkeysonkeys
 TTookook
 EEvanvan
 MEANS….MEANS….
 TTroposphereroposphere
 SStratospheretratosphere
 MMesosphereesosphere
 TThermospherehermosphere
 EExospherexosphere
 THE FIVE LAYERS OFTHE FIVE LAYERS OF
THE EARTH’STHE EARTH’S
ATMOSPHERE FROMATMOSPHERE FROM
THE EARTH OUT!THE EARTH OUT!

7. Why is the atmosphereWhy is the atmosphere
divided into 5 differentdivided into 5 different
layers?layers?  Any guesses?Any guesses?
 The atmosphere is dividedThe atmosphere is divided
into five different layersinto five different layers
because the atmosphere isbecause the atmosphere is
not uniform, its propertiesnot uniform, its properties
change with altitude.change with altitude.
 Two properties change withTwo properties change with
altitude, the AIR PRESSUREaltitude, the AIR PRESSURE
and the AIR TEMPERATUREand the AIR TEMPERATURE
 Lets look at each layerLets look at each layer
individually.individually.

8. The first layer of the atmosphereThe first layer of the atmosphere
is the…is the…
 The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphereThe troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere
nearest to earth.nearest to earth.
 The troposphere goes from 0km to 16km.The troposphere goes from 0km to 16km.
 All weather happens in the troposphere.All weather happens in the troposphere.
 More than half the air in the total atmosphere is inMore than half the air in the total atmosphere is in
this layer.this layer.
 The temperature drops as the altitude increases.The temperature drops as the altitude increases.
 Harmful ozone is found here…IT CREATES SMOG!Harmful ozone is found here…IT CREATES SMOG!
TROPOSPHERETROPOSPHERE

9. What is OZONE?What is OZONE?
 A gaseous layer in the upper
atmosphere that protects the
earth from harmful ultraviolet
radiation.
What is SMOG?What is SMOG?
 Pollution
 Smoke + Fog = Smog
 It can make it difficult to
see and the air dangerous
to breathe.

10. The second layer of theThe second layer of the
atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…
 The stratosphere goesThe stratosphere goes
from 16km to 50 km.from 16km to 50 km.
 The temperature goes upThe temperature goes up
with altitude.with altitude.
 Most jets fly in this layer.Most jets fly in this layer.
 The protective ozone is atThe protective ozone is at
the top of thethe top of the
stratosphere (It protectsstratosphere (It protects
us from the ultravioletus from the ultraviolet
radiation of the sun.)radiation of the sun.)
 Rivers of air, called JetRivers of air, called Jet
Streams, can be found atStreams, can be found at
the base of this layer.the base of this layer.
STRATOSPHERESTRATOSPHERE

11. The third layer of the atmosphereThe third layer of the atmosphere
is the…is the…
 The Mesosphere goes fromThe Mesosphere goes from
50km to 90km.50km to 90km.
 In the mesosphere, theIn the mesosphere, the
temperature drops withtemperature drops with
altitude.altitude.
 The mesosphere is theThe mesosphere is the
coldest layer of thecoldest layer of the
atmosphere.atmosphere.
 Meteors burn up in thisMeteors burn up in this
layer.layer.
 Radio waves are reflectedRadio waves are reflected
back to earth in theback to earth in the
mesosphere.mesosphere.
MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE

12. The fourth layer of theThe fourth layer of the
atmosphere is the…atmosphere is the…
 The thermosphere goes fromThe thermosphere goes from
90km to 300km.90km to 300km.
 In the thermosphere theIn the thermosphere the
temperature goes up withtemperature goes up with
altitude.altitude.
 The thermosphere is the hottestThe thermosphere is the hottest
layer of the atmosphere.layer of the atmosphere.
 Curtains of light called aurorasCurtains of light called auroras
occur in this layer.occur in this layer.
 The Ionosphere is found in theThe Ionosphere is found in the
thermosphere. This is thethermosphere. This is the
component of thecomponent of the
thermosphere that makes thethermosphere that makes the
auroras.auroras.
THERMOSPHERTHERMOSPHER

13. The last layer of the atmosphereThe last layer of the atmosphere
is the…is the…
 The exosphere is theThe exosphere is the
outermost layer ofoutermost layer of
the atmosphere.the atmosphere.
 The temperature inThe temperature in
the exosphere goesthe exosphere goes
up with altitude.up with altitude.
 Satellites orbit earthSatellites orbit earth
in the exosphere.in the exosphere.
EXOSPHEREEXOSPHERE

14. GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!
It is important to understand the differentIt is important to understand the different
characteristics of the earth’s atmosphere.characteristics of the earth’s atmosphere.
As you go through the following slides,As you go through the following slides,
challenge your partner to see who canchallenge your partner to see who can
name the correct layer in which eachname the correct layer in which each
characteristic can be found.characteristic can be found.

15. EXOSPHEREEXOSPHERE

16. MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE

17. THERMOSPHERETHERMOSPHERE

18. TROPOSPHERETROPOSPHERE

19. STRATOSPHERESTRATOSPHERE

20. THERMOSPHERETHERMOSPHERE
OR THE IONOSPHEREOR THE IONOSPHERE

21. MESOSPHEREMESOSPHERE